The Manson School District Board of Directors honored Kayla Helleson and Maria Verduzco, as the 2017 Blue and White Excellence Awards winners at its April board meeting held last night in the Manson Elementary Library. Each recipient received a plaque for their commitment to our schools and community. Kayla and Maria will also be honored at the Manson Chamber of Commerce’s Manson Night to Remember awards dinner held in October each year.
Nominations were submitted by staff, students and community members. Award recipients were: elementary counselor, Kayla Helleson and elementary para-educator Maria Verduzco.
KAYLA HELLESON one student among those nominating Mrs. Helleson wanted to “Thank for teaching us to solve problems.” Several peers shared that Kayla is caring, passionate and goes above and beyond for students and their families. As stated by an elementary teacher, “she truly cares about our kids and will do whatever she can to help them.”
MARIA VERDUZCO, among those nominating Ms. Verduzco was a co-worker who shared, “She is a highly skilled and compassionate educator. She works with many of Manson’s highest need students and is able to support them with the love and care they deserve.”
As we honor our two Blue and White Award winners, the Manson School District will also be recognizing all of our staff during Staff Appreciation Week from May 1-5. Our staff is one of the best and what they accomplish on a daily basis is awesome.
How do you properly thank someone who has given their entire working life to an organization? Manson School District will be faced with answering this question in June as Mr. Tom Alexander will be retiring at the end of the school year after 38 years of teaching and coaching all with Manson School District.
Mr. “A”, as he is referred to, has taught over 50 different subjects to Manson students at almost every grade level in his years with the district including: PE, Health, Science, Social Studies, Math and Language Arts covering just about every subject that can be taught.
Not only has Tom taught these many subjects, but he has done so while serving as athletic director (20 years), coaching multiple sports such as baseball (24 years), football (18 years), girls and boys basketball (14 years) and cross county (3 years) at both the middle and high school level. Mr. A even refereed all the middle school home games for all sports for over ten years.
Tom has touched over 1,000 lives in his tenure with the Manson School District and left lasting impressions on many students and athletes. He has served as a mentor to dozens of educators and worked with countless parents and community members to provide that “extra” support a child might need. For many years Mr. A was the first to arrive at school and the last to lock up the gate after a late game or event.
Mason high school teacher Brad Soliday shared, “Tom’s loyalty and devotion to Manson’s school and community has been extraordinary. I can’t imagine that if you could add up the hours this man has spent working for students and athletes in Manson, over 38 years, anyone could rival his accumulated devotion. He has truly been a pillar of our school. I could not have asked for a better colleague or friend for the past 22 years. Thanks Tom.
As his longtime friend/co-worker and co-coach remarked… “Tom has been such a positive influence on hundreds or even thousands of students in the past 38 years. He has the ability to bring out the best in all students and athletes and the example he sets has helped shape the character of all the lives he touches. I have been lucky enough to share Tom’s journey at Manson High School for 37 years and he has also affected my life and my family in so many positive ways. I have been blessed to share many laughs and tears along the way. He is a brother to me and I am so thankful to be his friend. Joe Teague (Retired Manson Counselor/Coach)
Congratulations on your retirement Tom and best of luck on your next adventure!
On Monday, February 27th, Manson’s Knowledge Bowl team battled against a very tough pool of 2B competition at the North Central Washington Regional Knowledge Bowl Tournament at Wenatchee High School.
The Manson team competed against four other 2B schools: Liberty Bell, Tonasket, Soap Lake, and Waterville. All of the schools were fighting for one of the four spots that would guarantee a berth to the 35th Annual Washington State Knowledge Bowl Tournament on Saturday, March 18th at Arlington High School.
Manson fought hard coming out on top for the first two oral rounds of their competition. By the end of the night, Manson (63 points) edged past the juggernaut Soap Lake (57 points) to take 3rd place. Liberty Bell took top honors, finishing the night with 109 points. 2nd place went to Tonasket with 93 points, Soap Lake took 4th, and Waterville finished the night with a 5th place finish and earned 28 points.
The six team members representing the Manson High School Knowledge Bowl team at State are: Tristan Picton (captain), Adeleine Torgesen, Spencer Ward, Alyssa LaMar, Cody Amsden, and Tyler Charlton.
On Friday February 24th the Manson FFA participated in National FFA week. The students participated in a kiss the goat charity.
Manson Teachers would volunteer themselves to have a jar with their name and face on it, and through the week if a student wanted them to kiss a goat they donated money.
At the end of it all the winners were Mrs. Koth and Mrs. Carlton, all the money that was raised went to Esteban Escoto who is battling cancer.
Manson FFA raised a total of one hundred and ninety dollars in total thank you for all of your support and to the students that donated.
-Submitted by: Damon Smith
Manson, Washington. – March 6, 2017 – After six seasons as Manson High School’s Varsity Head Football Coach, Scott Ward has made the decision to resign from his coaching position. Ward shared his appreciation for Manson High School athletics with our great student-athletes, parents and community. Ward had a successful tenure as Head Coach. In 2011 he lead the team to a league championship and in each of the last two season the team qualified for the district playoffs.
“Scott loves to teach the game and to develop players. I was impressed with his ability to see potential in kids and develop it.” – Eric Sivertson, Athletic Director
Beyond serving as the Varsity Head Football Coach, Scott was an assistant football coach for three years and a basketball assistant for two years.
Manson High School begin its search for a new Head Coach immediately. A committee will review applicants and help to find a coach that can build on the foundation developed by Coach Ward.
On February 13th, Manson High School hosted the 7th match of the North Central Washington Knowledge Bowl Tournaments.
There were eight high schools with a total thirty-three teams vying for top spots in the competition. It was by far the largest tournament of the season.
In addition to the Manson Knowledge Bowl team, there were teams from: Okanogan, Liberty Bell, Tonasket, Cascade, Omak, Chelan, and Waterville. The competition was fierce and fun.
The questions were unbelievably challenging from various academic disciplines (e.g. “The Delian Amphictyony was centered on what Aegean Island?” Answer: Delos or “What kind of plain results in the penultimate stage of fluvial erosion?” Answer: peneplain).
With over 160 people participating in different roles (i.e. readers, participants, coaches, timekeepers, scorekeepers, and supportive parents.), it was a great success.
The Manson Knowledge team took 10th place in a tournament that featured past State contenders.
The Manson Knowledge Bowl team wants to thank the administration, faculty, staff, and community for all their help in making this tournament a memorable experience for all.
Our 2017 District Spelling Champion is Grant Torgesen, 8th grade, and the runner up is his sister, Afton Torgesen, 4th grade.
Grant's Championship word was "tenaciously".
Twelve students spelled off with each other to a packed house. The 2017 district bee was one of the longest spelling rounds Manson ever experienced. The final four students lasted 17 rounds of spelling with two students left in round 18.
Afton spelled out on the word "patronymic" and Grant went on to win the Championship round by spelling "tenaciously".
Our two spellers will now move on to the NCW Collaborative Spelling Bee in East Wenatchee on March 16th. Congratulations to all those who participated in the District Spelling Bee.
Manson School District’s Replacement Maintenance and Operations Levy appears to have been approved by voters with a 68.5% approval rate (50% required).
“On behalf of the Manson School Board I would like to thank the Manson Community for their overwhelming support of the recent replacement Maintenance and Operations Levy. The additional funds from the levy will allow us to enrich many student programs, continue timely maintenance of school facilities and retain and attract quality staff. It is clear to our board, staff, and students that the Manson Community is a critical supporter of our mission to provide students with an exceptional education.”
Paul Willard, School Board President
“We are very appreciative of Manson’s investment in our schools. We understand our community entrusts us with two of their most valuable assets...their children and their money. We accept this obligation and will continue working to strengthen our partnership with parents and the community to offer every student the opportunity to live a productive and fulfilling life.”
Matt Charlton, Superintendent
Manson FFA will be celebrating National FFA week on Feb 18-25. National FFA Week is an opportunity for FFA members, alumni and sponsors to advocate for agricultural education and FFA.
More than half a million members will participate in FFA activities throughout the week. There will be a variety of events that allow members to communicate with others about what FFA is all about and ignite a passion for agriculture!
This year’s theme is “Transform”. Why Transform? Because the future of agriculture is strong and as the population continues to grow, so does the need for a healthy and abundant food supply. By working together in this small community of Manson, we can transform the message of agriculture!
Together, Manson’s FFA members can continue to educate others on the importance of agriculture. Giving back to others and serving the community has always been important to FFA members. Throughout the year, members transform their passion for service in their community by giving back in a variety of ways. Here are a list of our daily events through the week.
Tuesday 21st - Green hand day
Wednesday 22nd - FFA t-shirts
Thursday 23rd - Barbeque
Friday 24th - Kiss a goat for charity
MVT WebCam 
